One of those bonafide CSS tricks. Vijay Sharma shows it’s possible to center align a single line of text, but if it wraps, left align the text. A small adjustment, but little tricks like this can help legibility.

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Aligning Text Smartly in CSS is a post from CSS-Tricks

WordPress 4.5, named after Jazz saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, has been released and is available for download.

This new version of WordPress comes with several new features and improvements, most of which focus on making editing and customizing of your site an easier task.

Here is a preview video:

And here is a run-down of the features:

• WordPress 4.5 now offers partial reload and loading of assets in the Theme Customizer. So if you change your logo, or the menu, the page will reload only that component, not the full thing.
• WordPress 4.5 now also offers native support for logos, so you can add your site logo in the Site Description section of the Theme Customizer.
• Inline links have been revamped and you can easily click and add links while editing content.
• Additional formatting aids, such as ` and ` to enclose preformatted code have been added.
• Better compression for images has now enhanced the performance of such images by almost 50% without affecting quality.
• Many other code and function improvements as well as bug fixes.

This release was led by Mike Schroder, alongwith 286 other volunteers. You can learn more about WordPress 4.5 here.

Have you updated your websites to WordPress 4.5 yet? Share your views in the comments below!

Read More at WordPress 4.5 “Coleman” Has Been Released

Two sentences from Rachel Andrew that explain when to reach for which layout choice:

Flexbox is essentially for laying out items in a single dimension – in a row OR a column. Grid is for layout of items in two dimensions – rows AND columns.

Flexbox can wrap, making it sorta-kinda two dimensions, but it still flows in a single dimension.

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Should I use Grid or Flexbox? is a post from CSS-Tricks

There are over two million iOS apps and almost as many Android apps in the growing app economy. However, for every Flappy Bird app that gets lucky and goes viral, there are thousands of apps that take time and hard work to launch and persistence to maintain, grow and avoid the app graveyard. While we typically hear about overnight success stories, this article explores the more typical experience of an appreneur, or app entrepreneur.

I spoke with one such appreneur, Amit Murumkar, about his journey with Canvsly over the past three and a half years. Canvsly helps parents capture and store their children’s artwork for posterity (and avoid the piles of paper!).

The post Lessons Learned From A First-Time Appreneur appeared first on Smashing Magazine.

Designers never own too many fonts. Serif fonts are the most popular when it comes to print projects. So why not stack up a decent stock? I have carefully selected a bunch of the prettiest types I could find. If you need support for other languages than English, most of these will have your back. Before using one of the more vaguely licenced fonts in commercial projects, make sure to recheck licence conditions. Now have fun with these 43 Serif fonts from typography heaven.

1 – Butler

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

2 – Fakedes

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

3 – Forum

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

4 – Athene

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

5 – Poly

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

6 – Barbaro

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

7 – Le Super Serif

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

8 – Firefly 2015

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

9 – Fénix

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

10 – Akura Popo

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

11 – Rancho

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

12 – Bariol Serif

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

13 – Lovato Light

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

14 – Yeseva One

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

15 – Luthier

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

16 – Cormorant

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

17 – Ledger

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

18 – Marta

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

19 – The Tryst

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

20 – Blnc Round

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

21 – Hagin

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

22 – Brela Regular

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

23 – Modum Regular

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

24 – Zorus Serif

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

25 – Seriffic

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

26 – Atletico

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

27 – Foglighten

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

28 – Artifika

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

29 – Arctic

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

30 – Bobber

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

31 – Superlative

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: TTF – only uppercase characters
International Support: No, only English

32 – Musket

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

33 – Ponsi

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

34 – Silverfake

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

35 – Corduroy Slab

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

36 – Weston

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

37 – Korneuburg Slab

Licence: free for private use only
Format: OTF + TTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

38 – Corki V.02

Licence: declared as “free”, no proper licence given
Format: OTF
International Support: No, only English

39 – Aleo

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

40 – Dirty Slab

Licence: free for private use only
Format: TTF
International Support: No, only English

41 – Bree

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

42 – Sreda

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF + OTF
International Support: Yes, Western language characters, including German, check for more

43 – Unna

Licence: Free for private and commercial use
Format: TTF + OTF
International Support: No, only English

(dpe)

Compiled from years of experience of the diverse, exciting, complex, and engaging creative industry, Radim Malinic’s Book of Ideas is a compilation of everything he’s learned throughout his career. An inspiring read for new designers and seasoned professionals alike, Malinic shares advice on everything from productivity to facing your fears, from finding happiness in your work to conquering creative block.

Malinic designed the original Webdesigner Depot site and he also designed our brand new logo. Originally from the Czech Republic, Malinic has been based in the UK for the last 16 years. He currently lives, and works in South West London under the name Brand Nu™:

Every chapter in this book is a memo from the diary I never had. It shows there’s been a shift in my thinking: I stopped talking over people and started listening. I wanted to better understand the questions. When I did, I realised I needed extra skills and knowledge to take me further in my career. It was time to learn in order to grow.

Book of Ideas is illustrated with some of Malinic’s most notable projects—his clients have ranged from WWF to USAID, Harry Potter to Dolby— this book is the product of his time starting out in the industry, and the decade since he decided to strike out alone and embrace freelancing.

The work included has been selected to demonstrate a range of working methods, from complex corporate projects, to personal experimental processes. On show is his almost scientific, application of color, that creates a distinctive style. The projects show just what can be done with the right attitude, and by adopting a fearless approach.

As well as key pieces of work from his career, the book also includes Malinic’s thoughts on numerous aspects of the industry, from choosing the right clients, to maintaining a rewarding career.

If you’re looking for a daily source on inspiration to keep on your desk, Malinic’s vision of the design world might be just the ticket.

Book of Ideas is available here, for $26 (approx).

30 High-Quality Vintage Fonts with Bonuses and Extended License – $17!

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Anyone who has created a WordPress plugin understands the need to create configurable fields to modify how the plugin works. There are countless uses for configurable options in a plugin, and nearly as many ways to implement said options. You see, WordPress allows plugin authors to create their own markup within their settings pages. As a side effect, settings pages can vary greatly between plugins.

In this article we are going to go over three common ways you can make your plugin configurable. We will start by creating a settings page and create our fields using the default WordPress Settings API. I will then walk you through how to set up your fields with a custom handler. Finally, I will show you how to integrate a great configurable fields plugin Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) into your own plugin.

The post Three Approaches To Adding Configurable Fields To Your Plugin appeared first on Smashing Magazine.

Users of Adobe Post will no doubt already be familiar with its ability to create social graphics in no time at all. Today, Adobe released Post 2.5, which gives users more features and control over how they start and move through their social sharing.

Fresh design remix feed

2.5 takes into account how designers usually begin on Post, with a Remix design. It used to be that Adobe had to put out a new version of the app to offer new designs to users—not anymore, though.

Perhaps one of the most convenient features is the app’s ability to push new designs to users all the time. They can check in weekly to get their hands on new designs on a regular basis. 2.5 makes it possible to have fresh Remix Posts already ready and waiting, thus streamlining the process.

Live photo design and sharing

This feature lets users add more vibrancy to their images. Recently, Apple debuted a stunning approach to capturing moments; they call it Live Photos, which is available on the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and SE. Thanks to 2.5 you’re able to create beautiful, live designs with Live Photos.

As users share, 2.5 will ask them if they wish to export their Post as an image, Live Photo or video. They should pick Live Photo to save their enhanced Live Photo to their cameras to share with friends and family through SMS. For social media, users can export their designs as videos and upload them right to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Design suggestion wheel

2.5 introduces design filters—a method of designing dazzling visuals simply and quickly. Think of the wheel as a place for users to test out specific design elements on only a part of their graphics. It lets users scroll through different design suggestions until they find the one that they want to test out for the particular area of their design.

Here’s how it works: Just pick a text element and then spin the wheel to line up with existing styles or discover new ones.

Smart alignment guides

Adobe has taken feedback from its designer community and implemented it for this new feature in 2.5. Smart alignment guides let users incorporate some visual feedback into their various design iterations. They can now align text with accuracy, thanks to guides.

High-quality export resolution

In another feature update based on design-community feedback, 2.5’s export resolution is 2560px by 2560px. Users can expect very crisp and sharp graphics for things like social headers, desktops, slide graphics and more.

Users who want a better and unique experience with social sharing can give Adobe Post 2.5 a try. Whether you’re making inspirational quotes, album covers, image captions, photo text, LinkedIn banners or YouTube thumbnails, there’s truly something for every creative person.

Adobe Post 2.5 is now available for download from the App Store. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Palette Cube: A Designer’s Perfect Color Capturing Tool

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